Package



Aug. 15, 1961 R. c. SPROULL EI'AL PACKAGE Filed May 29, 1957 lo H54 INVENTORSI REA W8 0. SPROULL CLARENCE 6. COSBXJI? ATTORNEY United States Patent O 2,996,177 PACKAGE Re'avis C.Sproull and Clarence C. Cosby, Jr., Richmond, Va., assignors to Philip Morris Incorporated, New York, 'N.Y., a corporation of Virginia Filed May 29, 1957, Ser. No. 662,463 3 Claims. (Cl. 20647) The present invention relates to packaging and more particularly to an improvement in packages dispensed from vending machines.

In the vending of packs of cigarettes by machine, it is frequently necessary to attach pennies to the pack as change from the coin or coins deposited in the machine. These packs are manufactured with cellophane or other moistureproof outer wrapping so as prevent the escape of moisture and retain the good smoking quality of the cigarette. In the present practice of attaching coins to cigarette packs, it has been customary for the vending machine companies to puncture the protective wrapping and insert the coins between the wrapping and the package. This destroys the primary function of the Wrapper by allowing the escape of moisture and desirable flavors.

It is therefore a principal object of the present invention to provide a means for attaching coins to cigarette packs so as to make change automatically without breaking the moistureproof Wrapper.

A further object of the present invention is to place coins on any packs where moisture proof and flavor retaining wrappers are required to maintain desirable quality in the contents and is applicable to any packaged material such as cigarettes, foods, and the like adapted to be dispensed through automatic vending machines.

A still further object of the invention is to save time in applying coins to cigarette packs which are to be sold through mechanical vending machines and to provide a uniform pack without breaking the protective wrapper. An additional advantage is to relieve the retailer of the nuisance incidental to inserting coins by hand or making change when the pack is purchased.

The present invention involves the placing of coins, usually pennies, to the adhesive side of a tape, such as Scotch tape at desired intervals suitable for attachment to packs of cigarettes. The coins are so spaced as to allow adequate area of adhesive on the tape for attachment to the outer surface of a wrapper of a cigarette pack.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing showing one form of application of the invention, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a cigarette pack with the coin tape applied thereto.

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of a roll of tape having coins attached thereto.

FIGURE 3 is a face View of the tape showing the adhesive side thereof with the coins adhered thereto.

FIGURE 4 is a side view of the coin tape shown in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a view similar to FIGURE 3, showing a slightly modified form of tape.

FIGURES 6 and 7 are diagrammatic views of automatic devices for applying coins to the adhesive tape.

Referring to the drawing in detail, numeral '10 indicates the tape and numeral 11 indicates the coins. The tape may be any form of adhesive tape although Scotch tape is preferred. The coins are usually pennies although other coins or tokens could be used. The coins may be grouped in any desired number up to four but for purpose of illustration, the group is shown as consisting of three in number. As seen in FIGURE 3, each group of three coins is separated from each other asufficient distance to permit severance of the tape between adjacent groups with sufiicient tape remaining to afiix the tape to a cigarette pack indicated by the numeral '12. The tape may be perforated at 13 for ease in severance. The tape is of a width slightly less than the diameter of the coin whereby the coins project slightly beyond the edge or edges of the tape. This permits ready separation of the tape from the pack after the vending operation. FIGURE 1 shows the coins 11 attached to the outer surface of the wrapper of cigarette pack 12 by the tape 10.

In the form of tape shown in FIGURE 5, an additional narrow strip of tape 14 may be joined to the first tape to more positively anchor the coins and prevent loss of any coins prior to application to the pack. Since tape 14 is narrower and shorter than tape 10 the overlapping adhesive portions of tape 10 allow it to be attached to the outer surface of a cigarette pack while the coins are held securely between tape 10 and tape 14.

The tape may be furnished to the retailer in strip form or may be furnished in the form of a roll as disclosed in FIGURE 2. As shown in FIGURE 2, the coins are on the outside of the tape but the roll may be formed with the coins on the inside.

The coins can be applied to the tape by hand when only a limited quantity is involved but where large quantities are involved, mechanical means may be used. FIGURES 6 and 7 disclose two simple forms of apparatus for mechanically applying the coins to a tape. In FIGURE 6, the coins are shown applied to the outer surface of a roll of tape of the type shown in FIGURE 2. The tape 10 is unwound from a roll 15 and rolled up on roll 16 by any suitable actuating means. The two rolls are spaced apart a suitable distance and positioned between the two rolls is a coin chute 17 for depositing the coins on the moving tape. A timing mechanism 18 cooperates with a gate on the chute for controlling the spacing of the coins on the tape. A pair of press rollers insure proper adherence of the coins to the tape prior to the final winding operation.

When it is desired to apply the coins to the inner surface of the roll of tape, the mechanism of FIGURE 7 may be employed. In this form, the chute 21 is positioned below the tape and a spring 22 urges the coins upwardly into contact with the adhesive surface of the moving tape against the backing plate 23. A suitable motor 24 is connected to the roll 16 to wind up the tape.

From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that the present invention is well adapted to accomplish the desired objects of the invention. It will be further apparent that minor changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention except as may be required by the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. In combination with a package having a wrapper thereon, a strip of tape having an adhesive surface, at least one coin attached to said adhesive surface, said strip having a width narrower than the coin diameter, said strip being attached to the outer surface of said wrapper by portions of the adhesive surface extending beyond the coin and with the coin located between the tape and said outer surface.

2. In combination with a package having a wrapper thereon, a first strip of adhesive tape attached to the outer surface of said wrapper, at least one coin attached to said first strip of adhesive tape between the tape and the wrapper, a second strip of tape of less width than the first strip of tape, said second tape being interposed between the coin and the said wrapper and having portions in contact with the adhesive portion of the first strip of tape and with said coin whereby said coin is attached between the two strips of tape, and said first strip having end portions extending beyond said coin and said second strip adhesively secured to said wrapper.

3. In combination with a cigarette package having a wrapper thereon, a strip of tape having an adhesive surface, at leastone coin attached to said adhesive surface, said strip being attached to the outer surface of said wrapper by portions of the adhesive surface extending beyond the coin and with the coin located between the tape and said outer surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Beckman Dec. 11, 1923 Williams Apr. 23, 1929 Guenard May 3, 1932 Roemele Mar. 23, 1937 McMakin Oct. 4, 1938 Feyrer Jan. 26, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS Australia Feb. 5, 1951 

